Buddhist monk guilty of battery gets 30 days in DuPage jail

September 09, 2010

A Buddhist monk was found guilty today of misdemeanor battery and sentenced to 30 days in the DuPage County jail for having "inappropriate" contact with a man who was worshiping at a temple near Willowbrook.

Chaliaw Chetawa , 28, a monk at the Wat Buddhadhamma Meditation Center in the 8900 block of Illinois Route 83 in unincorporated DuPage County, was convicted by DuPage Judge Karen Wilson following a one-day bench trial.

The 30-year-old victim, who works as an office clerk and attended special education classes in high school, testified today that he went to the temple to pray on March 21, 2010, and was followed by Chetawan into the washroom. He said Chetawan "hugged and kissed" him, then lifted his robes and exposed himself. The monk then grabbed the man's hand and attempted to have inappropriate conduct.

"It was very forceful," the victim said. "It was very humiliating."

He said he reported the incident to sheriff's police the next day, stating several times, "because it's not right."

Chetawan, who wore a long cloth overcoat over his religious robes in court, admitted physical contact occurred, but testified through a Thai interpreter that the touching was consensual.

Assistant State's Attorney Nicole English said, "The defendant instigated the touching and he took advantage of a vulnerable person during prayers, when the victim should feel protected."

Defense attorney Richard Kayne told Wilson that temple officials have told him that as soon as possible Chetawan will be "derobed" as a monk for breaking his vows of celibacy and sent back to his native Thailand.

Wilson also sentenced Chetawan, who has no previous criminal history, to a year of probation and ordered sex offender evaluation. The maximum sentence would have been a year in the county jail.